Birmingham have turned down the option of signing striker
Christian Benitez on a permanent deal, allowing the Ecuadorian to return to his parent club in Mexico.

Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez will leave Birmingham this summer

Benitez, who will be sent back to Santos Laguna, has failed to convince Blues manager Alex McLeish that he is worth the £7million asking price to complete a full-time switch to St Andrews – despite making 36 appearances for the club last season.

The forward’s return of just four goals in 2009/10 goes some way to explaining the decision, which McLeish said was as much motivated by finances as football.